Pygmy Leopard Catfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Exclusively colonizes the rocky littoral (petricola = rock dweller), never venturing onto muddy bottoms, preferring coastal cobble clusters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Pygmy Leopard Catfish (Synodontis petricola). Older brother of S. lucipinnis, it is distinguished from it by its size (13-15 cm / 5-6 inches) and by the black barbels (whiskers) instead of white.

Social Behavior: Extroverted and social. While loving rocks, it is not a nocturnal catfish that hides 24/7. In a school of 6 specimens they will constantly roam in plain sight. They become invisible and terrified if kept singly.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Starry coat (Leopard). Brownish/copper base dotted with irregular very black circular spots. The leading rays of the fins are thick and bright white, a clear school signal in the dark waters between crevices.

Aquarium Setup: 100 cm (40 inches) rocky aquarium. Create two large barriers of porous limestone rocks separated by an isthmus of fine sand. Do not insert sharp gravel, they would wear out their barbels by constantly rummaging.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous explorer. They consume granulated dry feeds, bottom fish tablets, frozen bloodworms, daphnia and stolen fish eggs. They will also eradicate annoying small snails (Physa, Planorbarius).

Water Quality: Demands pH stability and great purity. They cannot tolerate a pH drop below 7.4. Use coral sand or marine live rocks if the local tap water is too soft.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Perfect companions for medium-small Tanganyika Cichlids (Neolamprologus, Julidochromis). They do not eat tankmates, except very small defenseless fry. Not suitable for soft and acidic Amazonian tanks (they would die quickly).

Aquarium Reproduction: It is not a "Cuckoo". Unlike the multipunctatus, the petricola lays its eggs in narrow cavities and crevices inaccessible to other fish. In captivity, a bowl of glass marbles is often placed in the tank: they will throw the eggs inside, escaping the instinct to eat them.

Risks and Diseases: The "fabric nets" (Net entanglement). The pectoral spines of the petricola have thick backward-serrated teeth. If caught with a traditional nylon net, they will become totally entangled. Pulling means tearing off the bone (and killing the fish); it always forces the aquarist to cut the net around the spine.